Bodhi conducted baseline study for Search for Common Ground to establish a foundational understanding of the current context regarding the influence of local actors on multi‐level peacebuilding practices and policies in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger, and the Palestinian Territories at local, national and international levels. This study aligned with Search for Common Ground's strategic peacebuilding programme, 'From grassroots to global: empowering communities in peacebuilding policy', funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The specific objectives of the study included evaluating the capacity of local peacebuilders, assessing the effectiveness of grassroots practices, analysing the current ability of key international actors and bodies, employing a mixed‐methods approach and was based on the principles of participation and localisation. The baseline study emphasised the identification of cross-cutting learnings and evidence that can be used to strengthen partners' knowledge and experience with global programming on specific policy themes in fragile and conflict-affected states. It informed both the initiation of the project and subsequent evaluations, contributing to the programme's broader policy influence objectives.